Davidson, Norris

Norris Davidson (1908-1998) was a broadcaster, writer and documentary film maker.

Norris Davidson spent most of his life in County Wicklow and is associated with Donard, Blessington, Baltinglass and Dunlavin

He went to school at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, read English Literature and rowed at Cambridge. While in Cambridge he was involved with theatre and bought his first 16mm movie camera. His early amateur films were 'By Accident' (1930) and 'Damhsa Arann' (1934) filmed in 1931.

He worked with John Grierson and his documentary film unit and persuaded Robert Flaherty to visit the Aran Islands the setting of the film 'Man of Aran'.

Norris Davidson joined the Irish Naval Service during the Second World War and spent seven years patrolling the Irish coasts in motor torpedo-boats, starting as a converted yachtsman and ending as a dedicated Warrant Officer. He joined Radio Eireann in 1947 as a script writer and was subsequently appointed head of scripts and gained international recognition.

The award winning programme maker was honoured with Jacob's Radio and Television Awards for his documentary output and his opera commentaries, the Prix Jean Antoine, the Coppa del. Instituto Italiano di Navigazione during his career.